Dispensing carton and blank for producing the same



Feb. 8, 1966 G. E. STRUBLE DISPENSING CARTON AND BLANK FOR PRODUCING THE SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 26, 1964 I NV E NTOR Glenn 5 .Sfrub/e ATTORNEY Feb. 8, 1966 G. E. STRUBLE 3,233,795

DISPENSING CARTON AND BLANK FOR PRODUCING THE SAME Filed Aug. 26, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 KZIO Flg. 8

INVENTOR Glenn E. Srruble BY aw-m ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fitice 3,233,795 Patented Feb. 8, 1966 3,233,795 DISPENSING CARTON AND BLANK FOR PRODUCING THE SAME Glenn E. Struhle, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor to Diamond International Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 392,165 4 Claims. (Cl. 222456) This invention relates generally to containers and more particularly to an improved container or carton and onepiece blank for packaging a fluent material permitting a measured. portion of the contents to be dispensed therefrom.

Paperboard cartons or boxes have been used for many years for packaging various materials used about the household, for example, soap powders, sugars, grains, etc. Many of these packages have been cut and scored and provided with perforated sections and/ or pouring spouts adapted for improving dispensing of the contents. Other cartons have attempted, through relatively elaborate partitions, to provide means for regulating the amount of the material being dispensed.

Primary objects of the present invention are to provide a novel dispensing carton and blank requiring a minimum fold initiated during the assembly of the blank;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the second .fold during assembly of the carton;

FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, showing the side opposite that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and showing the final fold in the assembly of the blank;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the novel dispensing blank after it has been filled with a fluent material and sealed at opposite ends of the closure assemblies thereof, portions being broken away for the purpose of showing construction details;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section, with an intermediate portion being broken away, and showing further construction details;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the plane of line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a blank showing an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view on a reduced scale, showing the initial folding step when assembling the blank of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is another plan view on a reduced scale showing the next folding step during the assembly of the blank of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is still another plan view on a reduced scale showing the last folding step during the assembly of the blank of FIG. 8, and illustrating by means of phantom lines the next-to-last folding step during the assembly of this blank;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the upper end portion of the assembled blank as the same is being erected, and particularly showing how the closure flap cooperates with the upper end of the pouring leg of the substantially L-shaped pouring tube construction of the carton; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the erected blank of FIG. 8, and showing the carton in an operative condition for pouring a fluent material after the knock-out tabs thereof have been removed.

First referring to-FIG. 1, a one-piece blank is produced from a suitable paperboard material or the like as indicated generally at 18 and comprises a first rectangular side wall panel having a free side margin 14 having hingedly connected to a side marginal fold line 16 a rectangular end wall panel 18. The rectangular end wall panel 18 has hingedly connected at a side margin 20 a second side wall panel 22 having the same area and dimensions as side wall panel 12.

The blank 10, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, is inverted, i.e., the bottom closure for the carton or the panels forming the bottom closure are disclosed at the upper portions of these figures.

The side wall panel 12 has hingedly secured to the upper and lower marginal fold lines 24 and 26 rectangular closure flaps 28 and 30 having die cut peripheral margins. The side margins of the flaps 28 and 30 are colinear with the side margins of the panel 12, and the flap 28 includes in the side margin 32 thereof and formed by U-shaped perforated lines 34 a knock-out tab 36. This tab can take any desired configuration as will be recognized by those skilled in the art.

The end wall panel 18 has hingedly connected to lower and upper margins 38 and 40 die-cut end closure flaps 42 and 44, respectively.

The side wall panel 22 has hingedly connected to lower and upper margins 46 and 48 closure flaps 50 and 52 similar to flaps 28 and 30, respectively. Formed in the side margin 54 of the flap 50 is a U-shaped perforated line 56 forming a knock-out portion 58 similar to knock-out portion 36 and overlying the same when the carton is erected. The structure just described will be familiar to those skilled in the art.

Indicated generally at 60 and hingedly connected to the side margins 62 of the side wall panel 22 is a cut-andscored panel assembly for forming an end wall, a pair of end wall closure flaps and a substantially L-shaped tubu lar construction for measuring a particular quantity of fluent material such as soap powder, etc., and dispensing the same.

The panel assembly 60 includes a rectangular end wall panel 64 hingedly connected at 62 and includes at its respective lower and upper margins 66 and 68, a rectangular closure flap 70 and a substantially elongated bot tom closure flap 72. The wall 64 has formed therein by means of a semi-circular, perforated line 74 a knock-out tab 76. Extending into the closure flap 70 from the terminal ends of the line of perforation 74 and formed in the closure flap by means of a U-shaped line of perforation 73 is a knock-out tab 80. It will be noted that the panel 72, when the carton is erected, will extend lengthwise with respect to the bottom of the carton, and is preferably of a length less than the length of the closure flaps 30 and 52, for example.

The panel 64 includes a side marginal fold line 82 and the closure flap 72 has a side margin or fold line 84 to which are connected elongated narrow wall panels 86 and 88, respectively. The panels 86 and 88 include a side margin 90 and 92, respectively, and are spaced from each other at the adjacent ends by a triangular opening or die cut 94 which diverges from the terminal end 96 of the fold line 68. Foldably connected to the fold lines 90 and 92, are rectangular inner wall panels 98 and 100, respectively, which are hinged to each other at adjacent ends by a transverse fold line 102 colinear with the fold line 68 but spaced therefrom at the one end by the triangular opening 94.

Extending transversely of the panels 98 and 100 and spaced from and parallel to the fold line 102 are score or fold lines 104 and 106, respectively, which form panel segments 108 and 110. Hingedly connected to the marginal fold line 112 of panel 98 is an elongated narrow second wall panel segment 114 comprising a mirror image of the wall panel 86. H ingedly connected to the score or fold line 116 forming the side margin of panel 188 is a second panel segment 118 which is a mirror image of wall panel 88. p e v The panel segments 114 and 118 have hingedly connected to the marginal fold lines 120 and 122 thereof glue panels 124 and 1 26. Extending from the terminal ends of the fold lines 104 and 106 and diverging into the adjacent ends of the panels 114 and 118 is'a triangular aperture 128 comprising a mirror image of the triangular aperture 94. The aperture 128 terminates at a fragmentary fold line 129 colinear with the fold lines 182 and 68. The panels 86, 124, 126 will ultimately have a coating of adhesive thereon; the reason for this adhesive will become apparent during the description of the assembly of the blank into the dispensing carton.

Assembly of the blank The first fold is made by folding panels 114, 124 and is then applied to the outer surface of panels 124 and 126 as shown in FIG. 2.

The next fold is made at fold lines 82 and 84 wherein panels 124 and 126 will respectively be secured at areas 124' and 126' as indicated by phantom lines in FIG. 2 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

Glue is applied to the exposed surface of panel 86, and panels 12 and 18 are simultaneously folded on fold line 82 so that area 86' along the margin 14, as seen in FIG. 3, will adhere to the panel portion 86 which adhesive is applied thereto.

The blank will now be assembled as shown in FIG. 4 where we are once more looking at the outer surface of the carton. The assembled blank is now in a foldedfla condition, i.e. that normally assumed by conventional cartons prior to forming a rectangular tube.

The carton is erected by disposing the side walls 12, 22 and end walls 18, 64 in rectangularly related relationship as seen in FIG. 5, for example. The bottom of the carton is next closed, and this is accomplished by folding panels 72, 100 on the panel segments connected thereto on fold line 68 between the side walls 12 and 22 resulting in panel segments 108 and 118 being disposed in overlying relationship extending into the carton. Next, the closure flap 42 will be folded in overlying relationship with respect to flap 72, and then panels '38, 52 are folded on top of each other.

Next, carton is filled with a fluent material, such as soap powder or the like, as indicated at E in FIG. 5; the flaps 70, 44 are folded inwardly, and then flaps 28, 50 are secured.

In order to open the carton, the tabs 76, 80, 58 and 36 are ruptured in the manner shown in FIG. 6. Then, by pointing the carton with wall 64 facing downwardly, a predetermined amount of the powder or the like will be deposited in the measuring tube formed by panels 72, 88, 100 and 118. Then, by inverting the carton, i.e. with the lid down, the powder can be poured out of the opening which remains after portion 76 is removed from the line of'perforation 74.

Referring to FIGS. 813, a blank similar to that of FIGS. 17 is indicated generally at 210 and when assembled and erected will provide a dispensing carton functioning in substantially the same manner as previously described embodiment. In this second embodiment,

slightly different knock-out portions are provided, and

a supplemental glue flap is provided to facilitate assembling'of the carton.

The blank 210 comprises walls 212, 218, 222, and hingedly connected to each other on fold lines 216, 220 and 262. The wall 212, differing in this respect from the previously described embodiment, includes a side margin 214 which comprises a score or fold line 214 to which is foldably connected a supplemental glue fiap 286 which affords a function comparable to the glue strip area 86 of the previously described embodiment. The glue flap 286 includes in the upper edge thereof a V-shaped perforated line 287 extending to the upper marginal edge 289 and forming therein a knock-out tab portion 291. The wall panels 212, 218, 222, and 264 respectively include at the upper and lower edges thereof segmental fold lines 224, 226; 238; 240, and 246; 248, respectievly. Foldably connected to the respectively fold lines just mentioned are closure flaps 228, 238; 242, 244; and 258, 252. These end closure flaps are identical to those of the previously described embodiment. However, it will be noted that the flap 228 does not include a knockout portion as in the previously described embodiment, and likewise the flap 258 does not include a knock-out portion 58 as described in the previously described embodirnent.

Further, the wall panel 264 includes a V-shaped perforated line 274 forming a knock-out portion 276 complementary in shape to the knock-out portion 291 and extending to the upper marginal fold line 268 of the wall 264. Foldably connected to the fold line 268 is a closure flap 270 which will engage and help to seal the upper end of the pouring tube to be described. Foldably connected to a lower marginal fold line 266 of the wall 264 is a panel 272.

Foldably connected to side margins of the walls 264 and panel 272 at the fold lines 282 and 284 are panel segments 286 and 288, respectively. The panel segments 286 and 288 include a side marginal fold line 290 and 292 to which are foldably connected panels 298 and 301), respectively. Foldably connected to side margin 312 and 316 of the panels 298 and 380 are panel segments 314 and 318 which include side marginal fold lines 328 and 322 to which are foldably connected panel segments 324 and 326, respectively.

Included transversely of the panel segment 286, panel 298and panel segment 314 andpanel segment 288, panel 380 and panel segment 318 are panel segments 308 and 310, respectively, which are identical to the portions 108 and 118 of the previously described embodiment. The panel segments 324, 326 have a fragmentary fold 329 therebetween, and the panel segments 308 and 310 are formed by flanking cut-out portions 294 and 328 and are formed by transverse fold lines 386, 302 and 304.

Assembly of blank The blank of'FIG. 8 is first folded on fold lines 312 and 316 as seen in FIG. 9. A suitable adhesive is provided on the now exposed surface of panel elements .324 and 326 as shown in FIG. 9.

The next fold is made at the fold lines 282 and 284 as clearly seen in FIG. 10, and the adhesive on the panel elements 324 and 326 will respectively adhere to the panels -264-and-272. The upper edge 325 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) of panel element 324 will be in alignment with the angular edge margin 275 of the perforation line 274 forming the knock-out portion 276 of panel 264.

In this manner, the L-shaped measuring and pouring portion of the carton is assembled.

A suitable adhesive is applied on the exposed inner surface of panel 286 as indicated in FIG. 11), and the next fold is made on fold line 220, i.e., folding the panels 222 and 298 simultaneously into overlying relationship with respect to the panels 212 and 218. When this is accomplished, the panel 264 will be exposed as indicated in the lower portion of FIG. 10,'and'thereafter, the panel 286 is folded on fold line 214 into overlying juxtaposed relation with respect to the panel 264 accordingly adhering thereto and completing assembly of the blank. The knock-out portions 276 and 291 of panel 264 and 286, respectively, will be in overlying alignment. In this manner, the blank of FIG. 8 is assembled to form a substantially foldable-fiat tube.

The now assembled blank is erected in the manner previously described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7. It will be noted that the inner closure flap 270 will overlie the upper edge of the pouring tube portion of the L-shaped measuring and pouring assembly, see FIG. 12, as does the flap 70 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 13, it will be noted that the knockout portions 291 and 276 may be readily removed, thus exposing the interior of the pouring tube portion and accordingly permitting a powder or fluent material to be poured in a manner particularly described in detail with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. l-7.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A one-piece rectangular dispensing carton including opposed pairs of side and end walls connected to top and bottom closure assemblies, the improvement comprising:

pouring tube means in said carton,

said pouring tube means comprising a closed tubular pouring leg portion at one end of said bottom closure assembly and etxending parallel to and the entire height of one of said end walls,

said pouring leg portion including an aperture portion adjacent the upper end thereof and communicating with the exterior of said carton, said pouring tube means including a measuring-leg portion extending at right angles from the lower end of said pouring leg portion and communicating with the lower end thereof, said measuring-leg portion extending parallel to and along the lower surface of said bottom closure assembly and opening only at the terminal end toward the inner surface of the other end wall of said carton, said pouring and measuring-leg portions having a uniform rectangular cross section along the entire length thereof and said open terminal end comprising the entire cross section of said measuring-leg portion.

2. In a one-piece blank for producing a dispensing carton and including a pair of alternately disposed, rectangular side wall panels connected on mutually parallel fold lines to an intermediate end wall panel, the improvement comprising:

a cut-and-scored panel assembly hingedly connected to the side marginal fold line of one of said side wall panels,

said panel assembly including a second rectangular end wall panel corresponding in size to said intermediate end wall panel having upper and lower marginal fold lines and an aperture-forming portion adjacent said upper marginal fold line;

upper and lower closure flaps hingedly connected to said upper and lower marginal fold lines of said second rectangular end wall panel, said second end wall panel and said lower closure flap each including a colinear side marginal fold line parallel to the marginal fold line of said one side wall panel;

first narrow side wall panel elements respectively hingedly connected to said one end wall panel and lower closure flap on the side marginal fold lines thereof and extending the height thereof,

said first narrow side wall panel elements including side marginal fold lines; inner wall panels equal in width to said lower closure flap and said one end wall panel and respectively hingedly connected to said side marginal fold lines of said first narrow side wall panel elements; second narrow side wall panel elements respectively hingedly connected to side margins of said inner wall panels and extending the height thereof;

and glue flap panels hingedly connected to side margins of said second narrow side wall panel elements,

said inner wall panels being hingedly connected at adjacent end margins thereof and including means therebetween forming an L-shaped communicating measuring-and-pouring tube including a measuring leg disposed at right angles to a pouring leg and each of said legs having a uniform rectangular cross section the entire length thereof.

3. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said last mentioned means comprising transverse panel segments hingedly connected to each other and to respective adjacent ends in said inner wall panels intermediately of said inner wall panels, at the lower marginal fold lines,

said first and second side wall panel elements including triangular apertures therethrough diverging from opposite ends of said panel segments and terminating at the outer margin of said first and second side wall panel elements coincident with a fold line passing through the lower marginal fold line of said one end wall panel and said lower closure fiap.

4. The structure as claimed in claim 1, in which said measuring-leg portion comprising an inner closure flap forming a part of the bottom closure assembly of said dispensing carton.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,692,708 10/ 1954 Frey 222-456 2,738,906 3/1956 Frey 222-455 FOREIGN PATENTS 767,825 2/ 1957 Great Britain.

LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

HADD S, LANE, Examiner. 

1. A ONE-PIECE RECTANGULAR DISPENSING CARTON INCLUDING OPPOSED PAIRS OF SIDE AND END WALLS CONNECTED TO TOP AND BOTTOM CLOSURE ASSEMBLIES, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: POURING TUBE MEANS IN SAID CARTON, SAID POURING TUBE MEANS COMPRISING A CLOSED TUBULAR POURING LEG PORTION AT ONE END OF SAID BOTTOM CLOSURE ASSEMBLY AND EXTENDING PARALLEL TO AND THE ENTIRE HEIGHT OF ONE OF SAID END WALLS, SAID POURING LEG PORTION INCLUDING AN APERTURE PORTION ADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE EXTERIOR OF SAID CARTON, SAID POURING TUBE MEANS INCLUDING A MEASURING-LEG PORTION EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES FROM THE LOWER END OF SAID POURING LEG PORTION AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE LOWER END THEREOF, SAID MEASURING-LEG PORTION EXTENDING PARALLEL TO AND ALONG THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID BOTTOM CLOSURE ASSEMBLY AND OPENING ONLY AT THE TERMINAL END TOWARD THE INNER SURFACE OF THE OTHER END WALL OF SAID CARTON, SAID POURING AND MEASURING-LEG PORTIONS HAVING A UNIFORM RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH THEREOF AND SAID OPEN TERMINAL END COMPRISING THE ENTIRE CROSS SECTION OF SAID MEASURING-LEG PORTION. 